MORRIS HAILS BIGGEST GLAM HOME GAME FOR A DECADE
GLAMORGAN boss Hugh Morris has insisted Thursday’s NatWest T20 Blast campaign against Yorkshire is the biggest domestic cricket in game in Wales for more than a decade.
The Welsh county have set prices at £10 for adults and £5 for children for the Yorkshire game in order to try and attract a five-figure attendance of at least 10,000.
“We were really encouraged by the crowd we had for the last group game against Somerset as we got 7,500 into the ground,” said Morris.
“It was a fantastic atmosphere and a really good night with some excellent cricket.
“We wanted to reward our members and supporters and give them an opportunity to help fill the ground for the quarter-final.
“We have not had a home quarterfinal since 2004 and it’s only the second last eight match in Cardiff we have had in the history of this competition.
“So it’s the biggest game Glamorgan have had in Wales for 12 years and it’s great to give everyone an opportunity to buy a ticket at reasonable prices to hopefully cheer us on for victory.
“People who come here for some of our bigger occasions, like internationals matches and our big domestic games, have a great time.”
And Morris outlined the importance of trying to get through to a T20 Finals Day for only the second time in Glamorgan’s history since the domestic T20 tournament started in 2003.
“It’s a really big day for us,” added Morris.
“We have a very considerable obstacle in our way in Yorkshire and we are not thinking beyond that.
“But we are trying to develop and improve our performances.
“It was great to get to a Lord’s final in 2013 and this would be the next step for us.
“For the people of Wales who have got behind us in this competition, they would love the opportunity to go to Edgbaston on August 20 for Finals Day.”
Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait available for the rest of the NatWest T20 Blast campaign.
Tait arrived in Wales for the second half of the T20 group games and played the final seven matches of the tournament after South African speedster Dale Steyn had starred in the first half of the competition for the Welsh county.
Tait will feature against Yorkshire and will be available for Finals Day in Edgbaston on Saturday, August 20, if Glamorgan win their last eight encounter against the White Rose county.
“Shaun is staying with us until the conclusion of the competition,” added Morris.
“That was the basis on which we signed him. He is a top-class international fast bowler and we have proved this year you can get some early wickets through using our pace attack.
“Shaun has made his mark and we are looking forward to keeping him until the end of the competition.”
Yorkshire have been one of the top counties in recent seasons and are coached by Glamorgan’s former Australian paceman Jason Gillespie.
“Yorkshire is a tough but plum draw for us,” added Morris.
“They have been the team to beat in most competitions in recent years.
“They have produced more Eng-
land cricketers in recent times and have a tradition and history of success over many summers.”
Meanwhile, Morris has insisted he will fight to ensure the Welsh county remain at the forefront of any revamped domestic T20 tournaments in England and Wales.
Proposals have emerged for a fourweek competition that would be held in the height of summer, featuring newly created city-based teams and run in addition to the summer-long NatWest T20 Blast contested by the 18 counties with 2018 a possible start date.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have put together an executive team to draw up a small range of options for T20 cricket.
The ECB body will present them to the first-class counties and the recreational boards in September, with no agreed or preferred approach at present.
Support from 12 of the 18 counties and 26 of the 39 recreational cricket boards is needed to make changes, while television broadcasters like Sky will also be involved in the decision-making process.
“Whatever the outcome of the discussions and the debates, you can rest assured Glamorgan will be at the forefront,” said Morris.
“We will be battling hard to make sure whatever we believe is the best way forward is considered by all the relevant parties.
“There is a lot of speculation and discussion going on at the moment and it’s very important for the ECB to consider all the options.
“We have got meetings coming up in the coming weeks where the ECB will be setting out some of their options and thoughts. “We will be very open minded. “While we have been pleased with some of our performances on the field this season and improved crowds off it, if there is anything that can be done to improve this format of the game even further, we’re more than happy to listen to those options.
“It is going to be a big challenge. There are so many different stakeholders involved and so many different thoughts and opinions.
“The ECB are going to have listen to them all and come up with what they, and the consensus, believe is the right way forward.
“It is such an important decision because the T20 domestic game is central to the counties’ business plans.
“Our international programme is vital to us but that goes alongside domestic T20 as well. It’s vital for our revenue.”